Edmonton’s Brian Barnett wins silver medal in 200 at world junior track and field championships

Friday, August 18, 2006

BEIJING - Brian Barnett of Edmonton won the silver medal Friday in the men’s 200-metre sprint at the 182-country world junior track and field championships.

It was Canada’s second medal of the competition.  On Wednesday, Justyn Warner of Markham, Ont., took silver in the 100-metre dash.

In Friday’s 200, Marek Niit of Estonia won the gold medal in 20.96 followed by Barnett, the fastest qualifier in the semis, in 21.00 and Alexander Nelson of Britain third in 21.14.  Two runners were disqualified in the race.

‘’It was my worst race this year,’’ said Barnett, 19, who ran a personal best 20.70 two weeks ago to win the senior national title.  ‘’I took it out way too hard and I tightened up in the last 20 metres.  I know I should be celebrating a medal and a breakthrough year but I’m still steamed about my race.  I can’t believe that time.’’

Gabriella Duclos-Lasnier of Quebec City was ninth in the women’s pole vault final while Brianne Theisen of Humboldt, Sask., stands 18th in the heptathlon after four of seven events.

Nikkita Holder of Pickering, Ont., and Jenni Hucul of Saskatoon were eliminated in the women’s 100 hurdles semifinals.  Holder posted a personal best 13.94.

Jennifer Biewald of Ottawa and Alexandra Becker of Guelph, Ont., were eliminated in the women’s 1,500 preliminaries.

-AC-

For more information:
Mathieu Gentès
Marketing and Communications Manager
Athletics Canada
(613) 260-5580 ext. 3303
mgentes@athletics.ca

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